Krossover's 2014 Division I Championship Game Breakdown

The late Jimmy V said it best, “He who controls the pace, wins the race.”

That was certainly the case during the final Division I lacrosse game of the season on Memorial Day in Baltimore. In a rematch of the 2010 Championship, Duke University and Notre Dame were no strangers to the fast-paced, high-octane play of the NCAA Finals.

This time around, Duke came out on top again, trumping the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 11-9. With the win, Duke joins Syracuse, Johns Hopkins and a handful of elite lacrosse schools that have won back-to-back National Championships. By winning their third title in the last five years, it’s safe to use the word “dynasty” when discussing Blue Devil Lacrosse.

Despite a close final score, Duke dominated early and caused 11 Notre Dame turnovers. Similar to the game plan Duke had in the previous rounds to knock out Johns Hopkins and Denver, the Blue Devils accumulated an early lead, forcing the opponent to rally through the final minutes. Opening the game with three straight goals, the Blue Devils held the Fighting Irish to just a single first-half goal - a new record low for the NCAA Finals. Duke’s defensive initiative proved to be extremely successful as they allowed their lone goal to Notre Dame’s hotshot sophomore Matt Kavanagh.

A balanced attack from Blue Devil all-tourney players Deemer Class, Myles Jones, and defenseman Will Haus led the way as the Blue Devils hit the locker room up 5-1.

It wasn’t until late in the third quarter when the Fighting Irish began connecting shots with the back of the net. After falling behind 8-2, the Irish went on a 4-0 run that brought them within two goals in the final 11 minutes. As the Blue Devils focused their efforts on shutting down Kavanagh, the strong comeback was spearheaded by a five-goal performance from Sergio Perkovic.

After the tournament’s MVP, Jordan Wolf, tacked on another goal for Duke with just under 10 minutes to go, the Irish came back with a pair of their own and found themselves down by only one with 49 seconds to play.

Unfortunately for Notre Dame fans, their chance to win was almost immediately stifled when the two teams met at midfield to face off for one of the final possessions. Winning this possession would give Notre Dame plenty of time to strike while the iron was hot and potentially tie the game. However, Duke lined up Brendan Fowler, their faceoff specialist who boasts a .590 winning percentage at centerfield. The dominating FOGO secured possession for the Blue Devils, and Jordan Wolf fired another quick strike past Notre Dame goalie Connor Kelley. The Blue Devils captured a two-goal lead with only 25 seconds left, sealing another NCAA Championship.

Known for their balanced and deep offense that penetrates into the midfield, the Blue Devils were lead by attackers Kyle Keenan and Jordan Wolf. They also had the benefit of some strong midfield play, as Myles Jones and Deemer Class picked up two goals apiece.

Freshman Sergio Perkovic had the hot stick for the Irish, scoring five goals on the evening, while leading scorer Matt Kavanagh was held to just two goals. Despite a disappointing loss in the final game of 2014, the future is bright for the Irish. Both Perkovic and Kavanagh have long collegiate careers ahead of them, and we can’t wait to see more!

It’s all blue skies for the Blue Devils too, as they have become a Memorial Day mainstay. When asked about his Duke Dynasty, Coach Danowksi had a simple reply for the press. “It’s just Duke,” he said.

We couldn’t agree more.

Rewatch all of Monday’s Championship action by viewing the Krossover breakdown of the game. There you can easily search and sort through video clips, look at all of the advanced metrics, play with an interactive shot chart, and create your own highlight reels to share on social media.

Krossover provides game breakdown and video solutions for lacrosse teams at all levels, including summer clubs, camps, and tournaments. You can learn more about them by visiting them here.